A couple of unusual calls led to a change at the top of the AL Central standings.

Helped by a home run reversal and Francisco Rodriguez’s 50th save, the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 Sunday to split a four-game series between playoff contenders.

The Twins were leading 3-2 in the eighth inning when Jason Kubel hit a high drive down the right-field line that was called a homer by first base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. An incredulous Mike Scioscia came running out of the Angels dugout to argue and implore Wendelstedt to get a second opinion from his crew mates.

It didn’t take long for the ruling to be overturned — even without instant replay — and Kubel ended up striking out against rookie Jose Arredondo (6-1).

“It was pretty unanimous right from the beginning,” said crew chief Randy Marsh, who worked third base. “Nobody likes to reverse one, and I’ve been involved with some in pretty big situations like that. But when you get the call right, everyone’s behind you — the media and the teams on the field.”

In the bottom half, Los Angeles rallied for three runs, getting RBI triples from Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr.

The loss knocked Minnesota out of first place in the AL Central because the Chicago White Sox, boosted by another key call, had already come back to beat visiting Tampa Bay 6-5 in 10 innings. A.J. Pierzynski scored the winning run on Alexei Ramirez’s single, capping a bizarre trip around the bases.

Pierzynski, who always seems to be in the middle of a ruckus, got caught in a rundown between second and third on Jermaine Dye’s grounder to shortstop. He appeared to get tagged out after falling — but second base umpire Doug Eddings signaled safe instead.

Eddings called interference on Rays third baseman Willy Aybar, ruling that he bumped the runner after a throw toward second. Replays showed that Pierzynski initiated the contact, hitting Aybar with his left elbow before falling to the ground.

Tampa Bay infielders and manager Joe Maddon argued vehemently to no avail, and Pierzynski was awarded third.

“As a runner, you’re allowed to do that,” third base umpire Ted Barrett said. “If Aybar’s got the ball, there’s no obstruction. You protect the fielder when he’s in the act of fielding. Once that ball’s released and out of his hand, he has to vacate.”

Jim Thome hit his 534th homer, Carlos Quentin also connected and the White Sox tied it at 5 in the ninth on pinch-hitter Paul Konerko’s two-out single off Dan Wheeler, subbing for injured closer Troy Percival.

Bobby Jenks (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings as Chicago avoided a three-game sweep and moved back into first place, a half-game ahead of Minnesota.

Interestingly, Pierzynski and Eddings were at the center of another disputed call in the 2005 AL championship series between Chicago and the Los Angeles Angels.

Eddings was behind the plate when he called strike three on Pierzynski — but not the third out — in the ninth inning of Game 2. Eddings ruled the two-out pitch had bounced in the dirt, and Pierzynski hustled safely to first as the Angels ran off the field. Moments later, the White Sox rallied to win.

“It’s just a funny coincidence, I guess,” Pierzynski said. “Him and I will be linked forever because of that one play, and now there’s two plays.”

At Anaheim, Calif., Mark Teixeira hit his third home run of the series and seventh in 23 games since joining AL West-leading Los Angeles in a trade with Atlanta on July 29. Rodriguez got three outs to move within seven saves of Bobby Thigpen’s single-season record.

“I would love to get that record. I’m not going to lie to you,” Rodriguez said. “In the meantime, it’s something I can’t control. We’ve got a long way to go and I’m still looking forward to getting some more opportunities.”

Justin Morneau homered for Minnesota and reached the 100-RBI mark for the third straight season.



Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh after visiting New York blew a five-run lead, and the Yankees hung on to finish a three-game sweep.



At Toronto, Jed Lowrie hit a solo homer in the 11th off Brandon League (0-2), Dustin Pedroia had a three-run shot and the Red Sox won for the 11th time in 16 road games.



At Seattle, Felix Hernandez (8-8) allowed three homers in six innings but won for the first time in more than a month, and J.J. Putz earned his ninth save.



Brandon Duckworth (1-0) went five shaky innings for his first major league win as a starter in more than two years, helping host Kansas City end a seven-game skid.



At Arlington, Texas, Franklin Gutierrez’s tiebreaking single in the ninth inning led Cleveland to its season-high seventh straight win and a three-game sweep of fading Texas.

Andy Gonzalez, pinch running after Ryan Garko’s leadoff single, raced home on Gutierrez’s hit up the middle off Eddie Guardado (3-3).